Nintendo's latest mystery, "Emio, the Smiling Man," revives the beloved Famicom Detective Club series, a culmination of the franchise's history according to producer Sakamoto.
Famicom Detective Club Returns with a Chilling New Case
The original Famicom Detective Club games, The Missing Heir and The Girl Who Stands Behind, captivated players in the late 1980s with their countryside murder mysteries. Emio – The Smiling Man: Famicom Detective Club continues this legacy, placing players in the role of assistant detectives at the Utsugi Detective Agency. Their mission: solve a series of murders linked to the infamous Emio, the Smiling Man.
Launching globally on August 29, 2024, for Nintendo Switch, this new installment marks the first Famicom Detective Club game in 35 years. A cryptic teaser, featuring a trench-coated figure with a smiley-faced paper bag over his head, preceded the official announcement on July 17th.
The game's synopsis hints at a chilling plot: "A student is found dead, his head covered with a paper bag bearing an eerie smiling face—a striking resemblance to clues from unsolved murders dating back 18 years, and to Emio, a legendary killer who supposedly grants his victims ‘a smile that will last forever.’"
Players will investigate the murder of Eisuke Sasaki, uncovering clues that link to past cold cases. Interrogating classmates and others, and meticulously examining crime scenes, are key to solving the mystery. Ayumi Tachibana, a returning character known for her sharp interrogation skills, assists in the investigation, alongside Shunsuke Utsugi, the detective agency director, who previously worked on the 18-year-old cold cases.
A Divisive Reveal
Nintendo's cryptic teaser generated significant buzz, with one fan accurately predicting a new, darker Famicom Detective Club entry. While many welcomed the series' return, the visual novel format proved divisive. Some expressed disappointment on social media, with humorous comments highlighting the unexpected need for reading. Others speculated that fans hoped for a different genre, such as action-horror.
Exploring New Themes in Familiar Territory
Producer Yoshio Sakamoto, in a recent YouTube video, discussed the series' origins, describing the first two games as interactive movies. He cited the positive reception of the 2021 Switch remakes as the impetus for creating a new installment. Sakamoto also revealed influences from horror filmmaker Dario Argento, whose stylistic choices shaped the atmosphere of the original games. Kenji Yamamoto, the series composer, recalled Sakamoto's instructions to make *The Girl Who Stands Behind*'s final scene terrifyingly impactful, achieving a jump-scare effect through dramatic audio shifts.
Emio, the Smiling Man, is an original urban legend for the game, offering a thrilling exploration of this theme. While previous installments touched upon superstition and ghost stories (The Missing Heir with its ominous village saying, The Girl Who Stands Behind with its haunting tale), this entry focuses on the chilling power of urban legends.
Sakamoto's creative freedom during the development of the original games is well-documented, with Nintendo providing only the title and allowing the team to shape the narrative. The original Famicom Detective Club games achieved positive critical reception, currently holding a 74/100 Metacritic score.
Sakamoto describes Emio – The Smiling Man as the culmination of the team's experience, promising a compelling story and striking visuals. He anticipates a potentially divisive ending, hoping to spark lasting discussion among players.
